Video: Breaking down the High School Top 25Can Raiders wrestle Metro supremacy away from Garfield and Rainier Beach?16. Nathan Hale (Seattle, Wash.)Head coach: Brandon Roy (First year)
2015-16 record: 3-18
PLAYERS TO WATCHMarJon Beauchamp (6-3, Fr., G) … Top 100 potential in 2020 class
P.J. Fuller (6-3, So., G) … Top 100 prospect in the Class of 2019
Malik Johnson (5-8, So., G) … One of the lone bright spots in 2015-16
Coban Porter (6-2, Fr., G) … One of three Porter brothers on the Raider roster
Jontay Porter (6-9, Jr., F/C) … Top 50 prospect in Class of 2018, committed to Washington
Michael Porter Jr. (6-9, Sr., G/F) … No. 2 prospect in Class of 2017, committed to Washington
Michael Porter and brother Jontay led Father Tolton to a state title last season in Missouri.
Photo by Jim Redman
* The Nathan Hale program may undergo one of the most dramatic transformations from one season to the next we've seen in recent high school basketball history. The Raiders won just three games in 2015-16 yet enter this season a national Top 25 team. Much of the thanks go to University of Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar, who hired Michael Porter Sr. in May. The new Huskies assistant has five sons, including three who will play at Nathan Hale this season – Michael Jr., Jontay and Coban. Michael Jr. – regarded by some as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2017 – and Jontay led Father Tolton (Columbia) to a state title in Missouri in 2015-16.
* The talent at Nathan Hale certainly justifies a higher ranking but there is so much mystery to how it will all come together. Not only will it be a new-look roster, but the man on the sideline is also new in Roy. The former Washington and Portland Trail Blazers star certainly has the hoops pedigree but he's never coached a high school game.
KEY DATESDec. 9 – vs.
Rainier Beach (Seattle)Dec. 27-30 – Les Schwab Invitational
Jan. 3 – vs.
O'Dea (Seattle)Jan. 16 – vs.
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) @ Spalding Hoophall Classic
Jan. 17 – vs.
Garfield (Seattle)
